SHARJAH: In line with the Emirates Health Services’ (EHS) dedication to fostering a culture of innovation in healthcare and its commitment to enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities, Kuwait Hospital in Sharjah showcased several groundbreaking projects at the 2024 Innovation Exhibition, held under the theme “Innovate for Health.” The event brought together department directors, heads of sections, and hospital staff to highlight the critical role of innovation in institutional development and its significance in achieving the UAE’s future goals.
Dr. Afra Salim, Director of Kuwait Hospital in Sharjah, emphasised the need for innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and drive the transformation of institutional practices in the healthcare sector. She noted that enhancing performance and motivating staff to innovate are essential for achieving sustainable development goals, given the rapid advancements in healthcare and the opportunities afforded by modern technologies. These efforts reflect the leadership’s vision to enhance government performance, accelerate progress, and create innovative work environments that leverage technology and artificial intelligence to improve client services. This aligns with the objectives of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme and the broader goals of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and the “UAE Centennial 2071”.
“AI Diagnostic Radiology Examinations”… Reducing the timeframe to less than a day and during one visit: Dr. Amina Al Jasmi, Director of the Radiology Department at EHS, highlighted that artificial intelligence serves as a cornerstone of innovation in advanced technologies, particularly in healthcare. The integration of AI significantly accelerates the analysis of diagnostic imaging tests and enhances the accuracy of diagnoses, leading to quicker and more reliable results. This aligns with the goals of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, which aims to improve the client experience through high-quality, flexible government services. Dr. Al Jasmi pointed out that the implementation of AI in mammography has successfully reduced the time to receive final diagnoses to under one day and has streamlined the process to require only a single visit to a healthcare facility. This advancement has markedly improved individuals’ quality of life by enabling early disease detection, shortening treatment timelines, and lowering healthcare costs.
Revolutionizing Surgical Performance Evaluation with AI: Dr. Sara AlShaya, Director of the Data and Statistics Department at EHS, introduced the “AI Model for Evaluating Surgeons’ Performance,” which aligns closely with EHS strategic objectives and the UAE Centennial 2071 goals, particularly in enhancing the quality of life and patient-centered care. This innovative project establishes a comprehensive framework for assessing surgeons’ performance, incorporating 14 actionable criteria for evaluating clinical practices, surgical techniques, and patient outcomes.
Dr. AlShaya noted that this initiative is pivotal in ensuring high-quality healthcare services for all citizens and residents through advanced AI-supported technologies. The scalable performance evaluation framework improves transparency, enhances surgical outcomes, and facilitates informed decision-making. She emphasised that EHS is at the forefront of using this innovative framework to transform surgical performance management, setting new standards for quality in healthcare while optimising resource allocation and enabling proactive leadership decisions.
The exhibition also featured a range of innovations from the medical and nursing staff, including a new system for efficiently handling emergency cases and the “With You” initiative, aimed at improving client satisfaction by focusing on patient experience and providing timely information to families through email updates.
The event concluded with a showcase of cutting-edge devices and equipment deployed by the hospital in collaboration with its strategic partners. Attendees underscored the vital role of innovation in advancing healthcare services and promoting excellence, reiterating the importance of strategic partnerships in enhancing the innovation journey and delivering the highest standards of care to the community.